Tool #2 Ministry Practises

The 7 Practices of Effective Ministry By Andy Stanley

#1. Clarify the Win Define what is important at every level of ministry. Alignment: Keeps the team on the same page Momentum: Through a series of wins.

How to Clarify the Win: 1. Sum it up in a Simple Phrase 2. Keep it as Specific as Possible 3. Restate it Frequently and Creatively

#2. Think Steps Not Programs Before you start anything, make sure it takes you to where you need to go. A program is a system of services, opportunities or projects, usually designed to meet a social need. A step is a series of actions, processes or measures taken to achieve a goal. How do we create steps? * Determine where you want people to be * Figure out how to get them there

How to Create Effective Steps: 1. Make it Easy 2. Make it Obvious 3. Make it Strategic

The Win was clarified for each step!

#3. Narrow the Focus Do fewer things in order to make a greater impact. Eliminate what you do well for what you do best. Avoid complexity and pursue simplicity.

How to Narrow the Focus: 1. Simplify 2. Kill What is Not Working 3. Create Brands * Identify a primary target group * Design each environment to do one thing

#4. Teach Less for More Say only what you need to say, to the people who need to hear it. We improve learning when we teach less. Focus on what is most important rather than on what is interesting.

How To Teach Less For More: 1. Decide What You Are Going to Teach Established the irreducible minimums 2. Decide to Say One Thing at a Time Say less each time you speak or meet 3. Decide How You are Going to Say It Engage the heart and the mind 4. Say It Over and Over Again Repeat it over and over again

#5. Listen to Outsiders Focus on who you’re trying to reach not who you’re trying to keep. Most churches reflect the interests and needs of people who are already attending church. Find the Balance: * Building believers * Winning the lost

How to Listen to Outsiders: 1. Teach members to invest and invite 2. Learn the language of outsiders 3. Listen to organisations reaching outsiders 4. Listen to insiders who listen to outsiders

#6. Replace Yourself Learn to hand off what you do We can hold on until we are replaced or prepare someone to replace us!

How to Replace Ourselves: 1. Position volunteers to recruit 2. Teach what you know to others 3. Hand things off: * Break it down * Hand it off * Let it go

#7. Work On It Take time to evaluate your work and celebrate wins. No matter how good the system, a consistent time of evaluation can produce tremendous results. Creating margin.

How to Work On It: 1. Build margin into the calendar 2. Have a weekly story time 3. Confront the facts A Useful Tool: - SWOT Analysis - Critical issues - Action plan (what, how, when, who)

The Value of the 7 Practices Clarify The Win fuels our momentum Think Steps, Not Programs protects our alignment Narrow The Focus points us towards excellence Teach Less For More guarantees we stay relevant Listen To Outsides keeps us focussed on growth Replace Yourself assures us of longevity Work On It positions us for discovery